Category Archives: Sbs

This quilt is from the Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap Blue & Brown Swap back in October 2009. Looking black through the blog, it seems I made my blocks that August and September, 6 of 5 different blocks, then I made 2 more after the swap to have enough to complete this layout. The blocks are from around the world – Australia, Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the USA.

I made the setting blocks at a quilt retreat I went to in April 2012, but it still took me until that November to complete the top.

The backing is a braid/cable print that I picked up while on a quilt shop run at the retreat.

As someone said last week, there’s nothing but threads on my design wall. But that’s OK, I’m quilting. For about a week I debated on how I was going to quilt this quilt — the Sylvia Bridal Sampler Blue & Brown Swap. If I quilted in on the long arm, I was leaning toward this design:

But I didn’t know how I was going to quilt the borders. There’s a lot of ‘negative space’ begging for something cool. Here on the blog, one of my readers suggested since it’s a traditional setting go for traditional quilting and suggested Baptist Fans. I keyed in on the ‘traditional quilting’ and thought about some of the antique quilts I have and decided even with the ‘negative space’ a grid would be in keeping with the quilt and was something I could manage on my machine here at home.

The grid is completely done in one direction and I’m guessing about 1/3 of the way done in the other direction. My guess is by mid-week I’ll have another finish to report, then I’ll flip back to piecing. That last shirt backing needs to be done and I’d like to baste both Disappearing 9-Patches over the weekend.

Diamond Links still needs binding (it’s made!), but I pulled out my Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap top as it is part of the Crazy Challenge II and needs to be done by the end of October. Fortunately I have the backing already seamed, binding is made (although I’m having second thoughts) and have picked a thread (or maybe not). All that is left is for me to get batting and start the quilting.

The quilting gets me every time. I really shouldn’t say “every” as sometimes, I know exactly how I’m going to quilt a top. But I’m stymied on this one. Continue curves in the chain and either feathers or a cable in the borders depending on whether I quilt it on my DSM with my walking foot or rent time on the long arm. But the pieced blocks – I have no idea. I hope someone comments either here or on my Facebook post that triggers an idea so I’m not trying to get this done at the last-minute.

I’ve previously completed the last two on the list, so it appears that I’ll be doing a bit of hand work this month, as 3 of the 5 remaining blocks are appliqué. And yes, I hand appliquéd the stem on the leaf.

I made a big deal about fewer goals this week since I didn’t have a 3 day weekend. But I still didn’t get everything done. Between the push to finish Oklahoma Backroads and playing all day Saturday, I was worn out. The only reason I have 2 SBS blocks done is that I knew if I didnt’ get the second one done I’d only be able to cross off one item from my list. Perhaps this Quilting Accountability really works!

Finish Oklahoma Backroads – Done!

Quilt daily on the DWR – No

Piece 2 SBS blocks – Done!

Make this month’s KVQG BOM – No

Also distracting me was the fabric my sister-in-law gave me. There was a package of charm squares and a handful of similar FQs. Although smaller that I typically like to make baby quilts, this quilt top will be great to practice free motion quilting on.

Only the white fabric will count on my Stash Report Sunday since I haven’t added the gifted fabric in. I found a yellow and white print in my stash which I’ll use for the backing. Now to find a piece of batting big enough or piece one together.

Now for next week.

Get back on the DWR –I’m behind schedule

Make the September KVQG BOM

Piece 2 SBS Blocks

Check out the link over at Bari’s to see if others got met their goals for the week.